Warring praises special 5th grade class in moving up ceremonies

Moving up ceremonies recognize impending departures and endings.
In honoring her fifth grade class on Wednesday, Warring Principal Nicole Penn focused on entrances and beginnings.
“Many students in this particular group welcomed me into this building five years ago,” she said. “We entered Warring school together. I’ve had the humbling privilege to watch this group of students grow each year, becoming mature, responsible, accountable and extremely charismatic young individuals.”
Warring Elementary held its first of two fifth-grade moving up ceremonies Wednesday morning, honoring 60 students taught by Julia Anemelos, Jennifer Ennist and Tara Siudy. Warring will hold its second ceremony 9 a.m. Thursday, the same time Smith plans to honor its departing fifth graders.
Penn came to Warring from the then-Morse school as assistant principal in 2021, before becoming principal the next year. She also recognized, though, other honorees on stage Wednesday experienced beginnings much more recently. Under the district’s Elementary Reconfiguration this past fall, several students experienced their first days at Warring just nine months ago. Penn praised not only those who made the transition but also those who aided in it.
“You have welcomed a whole new population of individuals into your homes,” she said. “You taught them the Warring way and you all became one family.”
Wednesday’s program was fully bilingual, with Penn speaking English and Assistant Principal Yolanda Wright following with Spanish, paragraph by paragraph.
It also involved students in several ways: For’Ever Jones led the pledge of allegiance, students from each class – Nyah Fitz-Henley, Paola Vega Salvador and Isabella Antonio provided a fifth grade class message, which included thanking their teachers and parents in English and Spanish – and the students sang Quincy Jones’ “Tomorrow,” led by music teacher Melinda Aaron.
Before each student’s name was called to walk across the floor to receive hugs and congratulations from each of their three teachers, there were also a series of recognitions. Penn announced the classes’ annual award winners in such categories as academics, overall improvement, art, athletics, music and others, with each student standing to receive applause as their name was called. There was also time dedicated to honoring the school’s championship team in the Student Athlete Basketball Program, with member in attendance receiving a trophy.
Dutchess Community College student Sara Khan served as guest speaker. Khan and Dr. Amber Greer Patterson, who stood beside Khan as she spoke, have been at the forefront of Dutchess’ relationship with Warring. Khan this year was a regular face in the school, providing special science instruction in the school’s new Innovation Lab. 
“I quickly learned the students here are incredibly curious, creative and eager to learn,” Khan said. “Whether we were doing science experiments, building projects or exploring new ideas, I was always impressed by the enthusiasm you brought every single day.”
Penn presented Khan with flowers and praised the relationship between the college and her school. 
At the beginning and end of the program, Penn referred to her fifth graders as not just the Warring Class of 2026 but the Poughkeepsie High School Class of 2033. She offered words of advice on their journey beyond Mansion Street, imploring them not to be afraid of being different. That, she said, is how “legends … who will one day change the world” are born.
“Your families and your entire community are all extremely proud of you,” Penn told her soon-to-be departing students. “This is an opportunity for you to stay determined, continue to work hard, continue to fight to achieving excellence every day. It will seem easy to go along with the group, but you have learned to be leaders, to be yourselves and to do things because you know they are the right things to do.”